Microbiology Laboratory Analyst

This is a great opportunity to put your skills into action in our labs. Testing over 2 million samples a year and providing the highest quality drinking water to the Thames Water region. Our labs are a key part of the business which allows us to monitor that our drinking water is safe and clean and that our waste product is treated correctly. Not only do we analyse samples from our customers’ homes but also from abstraction, through our sites and into supply.

Our Labs have won awards for health and safety and all of our teams are dedicated to meeting this exceptional standard.

What you’ll be doing as a Laboratory Analyst
On a day-to-day basis, you're responsible for analysing samples within a defined area to meet the United Kingdom Accreditation Service, Environment Agency and Drinking Water Inspectorate standards and relevant Health and Safety Executive standards.

• Producing, recording, maintaining, and verifying data within a UKAS accredited Laboratory.
• We carry out tests including looking for Coliforms, Enterococci, Clostridia, chlorophyll, identification of algae and organisms in sewage sludge, taste & odour, flow cytometry and MALDI TOF. This will involve running a variety of automated and manual Lab techniques.
• Carrying out basic maintenance of this equipment.
• Working with quality management systems to ISO 17025 and automated data handling.

The base location for the role is Reading, Spenser House.
Working hours: 38 hours per week. Please note this role includes 4 weeks of day shifts with the working hours 9 am to 5 pm followed by 2 weeks of late shifts with a working timetable of 2 pm – 10 pm. 

What you should bring to the role

• Have a minimum of an A-Level in a science-related subject, preferably biology science.
• Knowledge of flow cytometry method would be advantageous.
• Background in microbiology will be beneficial.
• Be comfortable carrying out repetitive work and have a real passion for working in a laboratory.
• Have our customers at the heart of everything you do and value being part of a team to deliver exceptional customer service.

What’s in it for you?

• This role will be paid £29,265 per annum.
• 24 days holiday per year increasing to 28 with the length of service. (Plus bank holidays) 
• Contributory pension – Defined Contribution - Maximum of 12% -2x employee contribution.
• Once a year Personal Medical Assessments.
• Wider benefits scheme including our benefits hub, which is packed full of offers and information to save you money and support your wellbeing.

Who are we?
At Thames Water, our purpose is crystal clear - to deliver life’s essential service so our customers, communities and planet can thrive.

Water is life’s great leveller. Every living thing needs it, every single day. From people to plants, birds to bees, farms to factories, we all need it to thrive, and we’re committed to taking care of it for us all.

But keeping water flowing is becoming harder. From scorching summers to wetter winters, extreme weather affects everything from our pipes to our local rivers. We need to keep millions more kettles boiling, public services operating, washing machines spinning, showers running and more, so every drop is more precious than ever. Are you ready to play your part?

Working at Thames Water
At Thames Water we recognise that people are at the heart of our business. To help us succeed in providing life's essential service, we need a range of skills and capabilities, representative of society throughout our business.

We seek to attract and retain a cultural mix of people who can offer different but complementary attitudes, values, talents, and knowledge. We understand the importance of appreciating and harnessing the unique skills, experiences, background, and differences that each individual brings.

Our over-arching diversity and inclusion aim is to ensure Thames Water is a diverse and inclusive great place to work. We encourage applications from everyone and offer extra support for those who need it throughout the recruitment process.

Find out more about working at Thames Water.

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business, meet colleagues and earn some extra money along the way.

Disclaimer: due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.